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#1
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+4/-10 button usage
I have two Fathead II (Lundahl transformers) ribbon microphones, and I'm using balanced XLR cables to plug them into the Mbox.
From what I've read in the manual, it appears that I should have the +4/-10 buttons set to the +4 setting when recording. Is this correct? Thanks... Mike Mbox Pro 3, PT 10, iMac Late 2009.
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PC - i7 3Ghz, 12 GB RAM, TI 1394 card, Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. MBox Pro Pro Tools Win - 10.3.9 |
#2
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Re: +4/-10 button usage
+4 and -10 are referencing pro and consumer grade line level signal. Since you are plugging in a microphone, these do not apply. I suspect that this switch doesn't do anything when you're plugged into the mic inputs.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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James Cadwallader Mac Studio, 64GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Glyph 2TB USB3 HDD, OWC drive dock, Mac OS Monterey 12.6.8 Pro Tools Ultimate 2023.9, HD Native, Focusrite Red 8Pre Presonus Faderport, Pro Tools | Control |
#3
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Re: +4/-10 button usage
Ok, good. Thank you.
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PC - i7 3Ghz, 12 GB RAM, TI 1394 card, Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. MBox Pro Pro Tools Win - 10.3.9 |
#4
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Re: +4/-10 button usage
Yep, Mbox 3 Pro. The manual said this, which is why I was asking. (emphases mine):
=============== These switches let you select +4 or –10 input operating levels for Line Input channels 1–2 and/or 3–4. When “out” the level is set to +4 and when “in” it is set to –10 ================== I'm not arguing, just showing what I was looking at that brought up the question. I've misinterpreted something, apparently. I'm not having problems, but I have to really crank up the channel gain when I record. I'm a trumpet player, and that's all I'm going to be recording with this setup. I'm fairly certain I have the passive version. I record with Phantom off, and aside from the low input level it works out fine. I looked through the documentation that came with the microphones and couldn't find any reference to which version. If I may, what is the difference between the DBooster and the Cloudlifter? And what cable would I need to get to go from DBooster to the Mbox? Thank you very much for your help! Mike Quote:
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PC - i7 3Ghz, 12 GB RAM, TI 1394 card, Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. MBox Pro Pro Tools Win - 10.3.9 |
#5
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Re: +4/-10 button usage
Here's the recording 101 for you.
There are three kinds of signals you are recording.
If you record with a microphone, all you need to care about is mic gain (and do not overdo it, hitting peaks at -20dBFS is perfectly okay). If you record an instrument such as guitar, you need a DI box to make it microphone level, or a dedicated instrument input on your preamp. This +4/-10 line level button only applies to whatever line level stuff you are recording, a CD player for example.
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Janne What we do in life, echoes in eternity. |
#6
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Re: +4/-10 button usage
Big fan of the Fathead II mics(even with the stock transformer) Any of the many brands of booster will help and I see KT makes a very affordable one sold by Sweetwater. Having said that, I never needed the extra gain when using a more "premium" mic pre. You might consider adding one and connecting it to one of the line inputs(like 3 or 4). I got killer tracks with the Fathead II thru API 312 clones(Five Fish Audio X-12) with any brass instrument(and great vocal recordings with several LDC mics)
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HP Z4 workstation, Mbox Studio https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...0sound%20works The better I drink, the more I mix BTW, my name is Dave, but most people call me.........................Dave |
#7
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Re: +4/-10 button usage
Going that route would give me a great sound, but if I want to get something like that then I would have to be doing more recording to make it a worthwhile investment. I don't just want to get an inexpensive API 312 clone to get one. :)
I'm stuck with my MBox for now because it's Firewire only and the iMac I have is late 2009. So PT10, the late 2009 iMac and Mbox work well. Thanks! Quote:
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PC - i7 3Ghz, 12 GB RAM, TI 1394 card, Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. MBox Pro Pro Tools Win - 10.3.9 |
#8
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Re: +4/-10 button usage
I'm going to look into how you add the digital gain to tracks. That's gain staging, correct? I'm glad you mentioned that! :)
I think I might get the DBooster. I've seen some videos online that show the difference with and without, and it seems to be worthwhile. I'm also going to contact Cascade to make sure I have passive mics. I really appreciate the help! Thanks, Darryl! Mike Quote:
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PC - i7 3Ghz, 12 GB RAM, TI 1394 card, Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. MBox Pro Pro Tools Win - 10.3.9 |
#9
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Re: +4/-10 button usage
2 thoughts to consider:
1-To find out if your Cascade is passive, turn phantom power off. If the mic still sounds the same, its passive 2-re 312 clones, the 2 I am aware of(Warm Audio and Five Fish) are both very good preamps and considerably cheaper than the new API re-issue(or a Brent Averill version). If you don't mind adding a 500 rack, that format has a lot to offer. On the other hand, if you are good at soldering, the Five Fish X-12 can be had in kit form(I do recommend the discrete op-amp option)
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HP Z4 workstation, Mbox Studio https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...0sound%20works The better I drink, the more I mix BTW, my name is Dave, but most people call me.........................Dave |
#10
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+4/-10 button usage
Adjusting clip gain is the most fundamental way to add digital gain.
Quote:
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James Cadwallader Mac Studio, 64GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Glyph 2TB USB3 HDD, OWC drive dock, Mac OS Monterey 12.6.8 Pro Tools Ultimate 2023.9, HD Native, Focusrite Red 8Pre Presonus Faderport, Pro Tools | Control |
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